If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Rutgers losing o-line coach to NDSU

Offensive line coach and assistant head coach A.J. Blazek has left the staff for a new job, three individuals with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media, to join the coaching staff at two-time reigning FCS champion North Dakota State. Blazek has previously worked with new Bison coach Matt Entz.

The energetic Blazek was one of the more prominent members of head coach Chris Ash’s staff and considered one of its better recruiters. Blazek, who was an All-Big Ten center at Iowa, flirted with a job at his alma mater after the 2016 season. But Ash was able to retain him with a raise and the addition of his assistant head coach title. Blazek’s base salary was $350,000 this past season; his contract was set to expire at the end of June.
Despite the fact Rutgers had an abysmal offensive season in 2018, Blazek is so far the only change with the offensive coaching staff. John McNulty will return for a second season – becoming the first Rutgers offensive coordinator to do so in a decade – while running backs coach Nunzio Campanile, wide receivers coach Lester Erb and tight ends coach Vince Okruch appear set to return at this point.

Rutgers has made several changes on the defensive side of the ball, though. Ash did not retain defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jay Niemann and outside linebackers coach Toby Neinas after the season while cornerbacks coach/pass game coordinator Cory Robinson left for a job at Maryland. Ash has since re-hired former assistant Henry Baker to replace Robinson and tabbed former Maryland defensive coordinator Andy Buh to replace Niemann.

Offensive line coach and assistant head coach A.J. Blazek has left the staff for a new job, three individuals with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media, to join the coaching staff at two-time reigning FCS champion North Dakota State. Blazek has previously worked with new Bison coach Matt Entz.

The energetic Blazek was one of the more prominent members of head coach Chris Ash’s staff and considered one of its better recruiters. Blazek, who was an All-Big Ten center at Iowa, flirted with a job at his alma mater after the 2016 season. But Ash was able to retain him with a raise and the addition of his assistant head coach title. Blazek’s base salary was $350,000 this past season; his contract was set to expire at the end of June.
Despite the fact Rutgers had an abysmal offensive season in 2018, Blazek is so far the only change with the offensive coaching staff. John McNulty will return for a second season – becoming the first Rutgers offensive coordinator to do so in a decade – while running backs coach Nunzio Campanile, wide receivers coach Lester Erb and tight ends coach Vince Okruch appear set to return at this point.

Rutgers has made several changes on the defensive side of the ball, though. Ash did not retain defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jay Niemann and outside linebackers coach Toby Neinas after the season while cornerbacks coach/pass game coordinator Cory Robinson left for a job at Maryland. Ash has since re-hired former assistant Henry Baker to replace Robinson and tabbed former Maryland defensive coordinator Andy Buh to replace Niemann.

This is strange. I know that a coach may want to work with an old friend, but NDSU can't be paying their assistant coaches north of $350K. Plus moving from an asst head coaching job at a P5 school to move to JV?

This is strange. I know that a coach may want to work with an old friend, but NDSU can't be paying their assistant coaches north of $350K. Plus moving from an asst head coaching job at a P5 school to move to JV?

Or he is taking a slight pay cut and moving to a place that has stability because everyone at Rutgers probably gets fired in 10 months.

This is strange. I know that a coach may want to work with an old friend, but NDSU can't be paying their assistant coaches north of $350K. Plus moving from an asst head coaching job at a P5 school to move to JV?

Offensive line coach and assistant head coach A.J. Blazek has left the staff for a new job, three individuals with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media, to join the coaching staff at two-time reigning FCS champion North Dakota State. Blazek has previously worked with new Bison coach Matt Entz.

The energetic Blazek was one of the more prominent members of head coach Chris Ash’s staff and considered one of its better recruiters. Blazek, who was an All-Big Ten center at Iowa, flirted with a job at his alma mater after the 2016 season. But Ash was able to retain him with a raise and the addition of his assistant head coach title. Blazek’s base salary was $350,000 this past season; his contract was set to expire at the end of June.
Despite the fact Rutgers had an abysmal offensive season in 2018, Blazek is so far the only change with the offensive coaching staff. John McNulty will return for a second season – becoming the first Rutgers offensive coordinator to do so in a decade – while running backs coach Nunzio Campanile, wide receivers coach Lester Erb and tight ends coach Vince Okruch appear set to return at this point.

Rutgers has made several changes on the defensive side of the ball, though. Ash did not retain defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jay Niemann and outside linebackers coach Toby Neinas after the season while cornerbacks coach/pass game coordinator Cory Robinson left for a job at Maryland. Ash has since re-hired former assistant Henry Baker to replace Robinson and tabbed former Maryland defensive coordinator Andy Buh to replace Niemann.

Yea, and in about 5 years he might get offered an assistant job at a P5 school, maybe something like the OL coach at Rutgers! Stupid career move.

Taking an OL coaching job at the winningest program in college FB is stupid? The program that’s known for its power running game and has a greater emphasis on OL play than almost anywhere I can think of? It’s a stable job with upward mobility vs Rutgers. Even with less pay, not stupid. Rutgers football is somewhere between P5 and PU.